Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Louis's Anger
"But Uncle Napoleon, if I were to join the combat unit, there's one issue," Roland couldn't help but remind a delighted Napoleon.
"Oh? What's the problem? Let's hear it!" Napoleon asked, curious.
"My father, he definitely won't agree," Roland said, scratching his head in resignation. Louis doted on Roland, and if Roland wanted to join the combat unit, Louis would likely be a major obstacle.
"You mean Louis?" Napoleon rubbed his chin upon hearing Roland mention his father. Indeed, Louis needed to be placated; otherwise, if he found out that his son had been led to the front lines, he and his wife would be furious with Napoleon!
"No worries. I'll talk to Louis about it. You just relax," Napoleon decided to face the challenge head-on. After all, he was Louis's brother, and he expected that his influence would hold some sway.
"Great! Then I'll wait for the good news, Uncle Napoleon." Hearing this, Roland felt a wave of relief. Having someone to help persuade Louis was a huge relief. Roland had been eager to join the combat unit but had been worried about convincing his father. It was as if Napoleon had read his mind, like someone offering a pillow just as he was falling asleep.
"Don't worry! I'm sure I can convince Louis. You, young man, just get ready to serve in my army!" Napoleon confidently patted Roland, effectively "reserving" him in advance.
As night fell and the sun set, giving way to a moon that draped the city in a sheer veil of moonlight, the party began to wind down.
"Roland! Come here." After Louis had seen off the last guest, he called Roland over softly.
"Father, what is it?" Hearing his father's call, Roland slowly approached Louis.
"Come to the study with me," Louis said slowly as he looked at Roland.
"Alright, Father." Following Louis's instruction, Roland walked with him to the study.
"Roland! Sit down," Louis said gently, waving his hand to signal Roland to take a seat as he entered the study.
"Father, what is it?" At Louis's direction, Roland sat down slowly and asked softly.
"I know you recently passed your graduation exams at the military academy and have successfully graduated. What are your plans now?" Louis inquired.
In fact, he had already made arrangements; he had persuaded a military officer he knew, who, after receiving a significant sum of money, had promised to place Roland in the Paris City Defense Force.
After Louis spoke, Roland fell into a moment of deep thought, unsure how to broach the subject with his father.
"Don't worry, Roland. I've already arranged something for you. I've secured a position for you in the Paris City Defense Force, so your mother and I can see you every day," Louis explained.
"Father, I plan to join the combat unit, Uncle Napoleon's unit," Roland said firmly after a moment of reflection.
"Combat unit? What are you talking about? You want to go to the combat unit!" Upon hearing Roland's intentions, Louis reacted as if he were a cat whose tail had been stepped on, shouting in disbelief.
"Roland, how could you think this? Don't you realize how dangerous the combat units are?"
"Father... I..." Seeing his father's fury, Roland awkwardly rubbed his head, unsure of how to respond.
Knock, knock, knock—
Just as the atmosphere was turning increasingly awkward, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.
"Who is it? Julia?" Louis asked, thinking it might be his wife.
"Louis, it's me." As the door gently opened, the person outside revealed himself—it was Napoleon.
Napoleon's arrival puzzled Louis; the banquet was over, so why hadn't Napoleon left?
"Brother? What are you doing here? The banquet is over! Could it be... does Roland's desire to join the combat unit have something to do with you?"
Initially curious about why Napoleon hadn't left, Louis quickly put two and two together upon seeing Roland. He immediately turned and loudly demanded answers from Roland.
"This… that. I…" Listening to Louis's interrogation, Roland awkwardly touched his face, surprised by Louis's sharp reaction that instantly saw through his arrangement with Napoleon.
"Louis, don't be upset, hear me out." Seeing Louis's agitated demeanor, Napoleon quickly entered the study.
"Louis, actually, it was my idea to have Roland join the combat unit," Napoleon approached Louis quickly to explain.
"So it was you, Napoleon! What are you thinking? How could you send Roland to the front lines? He is your nephew! Aren't you worried he might be in danger?" Louis's face was full of anger upon Napoleon's admission. If Napoleon weren't his brother, Louis might have thrown a punch at him.
"Louis, I've already said, don't get too worked up. Just listen to me. I have my reasons for wanting Roland to join the combat unit," Napoleon hurried forward, trying to calm him.
"You speak! I'm listening." Within the Bonaparte family, Napoleon held significant authority. Even though Louis was furious, he paused his own words out of respect for Napoleon's authority.
"Louis, Roland is my nephew, of course, I don't want him to face danger. Naturally, if Roland stayed in Paris, he would live a safe life, but have you considered if that is what Roland wants?"
"You know Roland, he has been intelligent since he was a child. He should not waste his talents in Paris; he needs a broader stage to showcase his abilities," Napoleon implored earnestly in front of Louis.
"So what? Roland is my son, and no matter what achievements he might have in the future, I only care about his safety," Louis said defiantly, clearly very dissatisfied with Napoleon's influence over his son.
"Louis, listen carefully to me. If Roland joins the army, I will use my influence to ensure he is placed under my command. He will not face danger."
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